Transgender Veterans March Planning Takes Shape

For Immediate Release: February 10, 2005
From: The Transgender American Veterans Association (TAVA)
Media Contact: Robyn Walters
Contact Email: media [at] tavausa.org
projects [at] tavausa.org
Contact Phone: 360 434-3042
Website: http://www.tavausa.org

Transgender Veterans March Planning Takes Shape

This year’s transgender veterans gathering in Washington, DC, will be
expanded to include a stop at the new World War II Memorial. The May
21, 2005 ‘March to the Wall’ will also revisit the Vietnam and Iwo Jima
Memorials and culminate with the very emotional and proud experience of
dedicating a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns in Arlington National
Cemetery.

"2004 marked the first ever Transgender March to the Wall,” said
Angela Brightfeather, event organizer and TAVA Special Projects Chairperson.
“In 2005 we will be creating the Tradition for this very important
event.”

March organizers have selected the COMFORT INN DOWNTOWN DC/CONVENTION
CENTER as event headquarters. The hotel is located at 1201 Thirteenth
Street NW, Washington, DC and is near subway lines, Union Station, the
White House, Capitol Hill, national museums, and other sites of
interest. Information on the hotel, its amenities, its surroundings, and
directions can be at <http://www.choicehotels.com/ires/hotel/DC601>.
Reservations for the nights of May 20th and 21st may be made at a rate of
$109 per night plus tax by calling 202-682-5300 (Fax: 202-408-0830) and
asking for the special TAVA rate. Although street parking is often
possible, hotel parking is available for an additional $27 per day.

Those attending the TAVA March events must preregister at
http://www.tavausa.org/March05/march05.html in order to ensure a place on the chartered
buses and at the Saturday dinner. Hotel reservations must be made
directly with the hotel. TAVA will endeavor to facilitate room sharing, but
each person or group must make its own hotel reservations

“There are thousands of transgender veterans in America,” said TAVA
President Monica Helms. “We want them to experience what 50 of us
experienced last year. It was an event of a lifetime, and the first time will
be a cherished memory for life.”

Event sign in will begin at 3 pm on Friday, May 19 at the hotel,
followed by a reception from 7 pm to 10 pm.

Saturday breakfast is from 8 am to 10 am. The hotel offers a free
continental breakfast. Participants will board the bus at 10 am to visit
the veterans memorials. Lunch will be on your own at the Mall. The
tour will end with an afternoon wreath laying ceremony at the Tomb of the
Unknowns at a time to be determined.

The bus will depart for the hotel at about 4:30 pm. Cocktails will be
available at a cash bar beginning at 6:30, with dinner at 7:30 pm.

Sunday morning will see goodbyes at breakfast with promises to meet
again next year.

“The impact made by the first March to the Wall was recognized by
everyone in the GLBT community,” said Brightfeather. “The commitment of
TAVA to the success and importance of that gathering clearly pointed out
the need to make this a yearly pilgrimage and a tradition in our
community. Few events in the Transgender Community have such an important and
special meaning as this gathering of Transgender Veterans."

Please join TAVA and the many transgender veterans as we once again
provide a chance for healing from the many wounds of war and of life.
Find details and schedule updates via event links at http://www.tavausa.org. If
you need additional information, write to Angela Brightfeather at
projects [at] tavausa.org.

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The Transgender American Veterans Association (TAVA) acts proactively
with other concerned GLBT organizations to ensure that transsexual and
transgendered veterans will receive appropriate care for medical
conditions in accordance with the Veterans Health Administration Customer
Service Standards promise to "treat you with courtesy and dignity … as the
first class citizen that you are." Further, TAVA will help in
educating the VA and the US military on issues regarding a fair and equal
treatment of transgendered and transsexual individuals. TAVA will also
educate for a change in public law and policy that will help initiate this
fair and equal treatment.